Residents of the southern California city of Malibu have been forced to flee their homes after another late-year wildfire fanned by strong winds and warm weather tore across the area.
The Franklin Fire started shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday, and has since spread nearly 2,600 acres, forcing more than 6,000 people to evacuate their homes. The cause of the brush fire remains under investigation.
Approximately 700 firefighting personnel were working to fight the fire as the sun rose on the West Coast.
There have been no reports of serious injuries or deaths, and officials said Tuesday that a “minimal” number of homes had been destroyed. It was not immediately clear how many had burned, but 2,000 structures were in the evacuation zone.
The fire, which started around Pepperdine University, was moving south. Final examinations at the school were postponed and all Malibu schools were closed until further notice. The university lifted a shelter in place order, but said it might have to be reinstated if conditions worsen.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 150 personnel were assisting response efforts.
“The safety of our community members is our number one priority,” said Luna.
Red flag warning warnings were in effect through Wednesday.
The Franklin Fire continues to spread amid windy conditions
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Officials warn residents to heed warnings as threat continues
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California night sky glows orange as Franklin Fire prompts evacuation orders
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Governor Gavin Newsom secures federal assistance
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See the Franklin Fire in photos
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Pepperdine University students were under shelter in place order
Franklin Fire smoke is seen from NOAA satellite
18:55 , Julia Musto
Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center in Calabasas closes until further notice
18:50 , Julia Musto
City of Malibu gives evacuation update
18:45 , Julia Musto
Malibu residents grab their pig before fleeing Franklin Fire
18:40 , Julia Musto
Malibu residentsJessica Jones and Matthew Ryder reportedly took their three goats and a pot belly pig when evacuating from the Franklin Fire late Monday night.
The pair put the goats — Willie, Russell and their mother Ginger — into their pickup truck before attempting to load one-year-old Penelope.
“She was screaming her head off,” Ryder told The Los Angeles Times. “She doesn’t like to be picked up usually.”
Pepperdine University sends message to firefighters
18:35 , Julia Musto
FEMA approves California for federal assistance grant
18:30 , Julia Musto
Malibu residents are asked not to use their sprinklers, irrigate lawns
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Emergency officials discouraged Malibu residents from using their sprinkler systems on Tuesday, in an effort to keep water resources available to firefighters.
There were concerns about possible low water pressure during other recent fires in San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, according to KABC-TV.
Pepperdine University student said the Franklin Fire ‘felt really close’
18:15 , Julia Musto
A Pepperdine University student recalled the moments he first saw the Franklin Fire on Tuesday, saying he saw a pink glow when he looked out the window of his dorm.
“I thought this is too bright, and it got bigger and bigger,” the 20-year-old junior told The Associated Press. “I immediately went outside and saw that it was a real fire.”
Song and other resident assistants went door to door to evacuate students. Song said that most of them were calm, but a few rushed to their cars. They were probably less than a mile away.
“It felt really close,” he said. “Seeing the fire rampaging down the hill is obviously scary for students but I felt like our staff was prepared.”
Need shelter? Malibu residents can go here
18:10 , Julia Musto
Malibu residents wake up to smoky skies
18:00 , Julia Musto
Firefighters trucks are parked Tuesday as smoke billows from the Franklin Fire in Malibu, California. Officials warned residents to heed evacuation orders (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
Flames and smoke billow near homes on Tuesday as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California. Officials said a ‘minimal’ number of homes had been destroyed (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
The sun rises as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California, on Tuesday. Smoke has filled skies in the area (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
Firefighters work as flames and smoke billow from the Franklin Fire in Malibu, California, on Tuesday. The fire is not contained (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
Firefighters work as smoke rises from the Malibu, California, Franklin Fire on Tuesday. Hundreds of firefighting personnel were working on the fire (REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni)
Malibu resident says windows shook from firefighting helicopters
17:50 , Julia Musto
A Malibu resident said that she woke up Tuesday as the windows of her home shook from responding firefighting helicopters.
“I opened my window and the back of my property…was all engulfed,” Linda, who did not share her last name, told KTLA. “I ran to the house, got everybody up and had them get in the car and get out of here.”
She said she stayed to try to save her horses. Two were spooked and ran away, but she was able to save one.
“At the very end, we probably only had 45 minutes to get out of there,” she said.
She slept in a car with strangers and eventually found the other two horses unharmed, the station reported.
California cams capture Franklin Fire’s smoke filling skies
17:39 , Julia Musto
Smoke from the Franklin Fire is seen rising over the Malibu hills on Tuesday. (Cal Fire/ALERTCalifornia)
Malibu homes are shown in the Los Angeles County hills affected by the Franklin Fire. (Cal Fire/ALERTCalifornia)
Yellowish smoke fills the skies in Los Angeles County. The Franklin Fire was not yet contained (Cal Fire/ALERTCalifornia)
The Franklin Fire in photos: The 2,200-acre blaze threatens Malibu
17:26 , Julia Musto
A person walks along Malibu Canyon road on Tuesday as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, California. The fire was moving south on Tuesday morning ((AP Photo/Eric Thayer))
The Franklin Fire burns Tuesday in Malibu, California. Smoke has filled the skies ((AP Photo/Jae C. Hong))
A vehicle burns Tuesday during the Franklin Fire on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. A shelter in place order for the campus was lifted ((AP Photo/Eric Thayer))
Students evacuate from Pepperdine University on Tuesday as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California. Dangerous weather was expected to continue through Wednesday ((AP Photo/Ethan Swope))
Pepperdine University lifts its shelter in place order for now
17:13 , Julia Musto
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says city sent more than 15 fire engines to help fight the Franklin Fire
17:08 , Julia Musto
The Los Angeles County fire started late last night. Its cause is unknowm, and the blaze is not yet contained (Cal Fire)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday that the city is working to assist Malibu’s firefighting efforts.
The Los Angeles Fire Department provided more than 15 fire engines to aid the response, she wrote on social media. Bass assured residents that the department also remains ready to deploy to any incidents in Los Angeles.
“Our Emergency Management Department and Recreation and Parks Department worked to establish shelter with the Red Cross to assist those who evacuated,” she wrote.
“We encourage all residents of the area to continue following directions from public safety officials and to stay informed as this fire continues.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom says he secured federal assistance for the fire
16:56 , Julia Musto
On Monday, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services approved the prepositioning of firefighting resources in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and Ventura counties.
California night sky glows orange as Franklin Fire prompts evacuation orders
16:52 , Julia Musto
California night sky glows orange as Franklin Fire prompts evacuation orders
Southern California officials caution residents about ongoing wildfire threat
16:51 , Julia Musto
Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire on Tuesday in Malibu, California. The brush fire’s cause remains under investigation ((AP Photo/Ethan Swope))
Officials warned the more than 18,000 residents in areas threatened by the Franklin Fire that the danger wasn’t over.
“We remain under and immediate threat because of the red flag conditions,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone cautioned at a Tuesday morning news briefing.
There are approximately 8,100 structures in that area. Of those, more than 2,000 were under mandatory evacuation warnings.
“Please follow all evacuation orders. That is the most important thing,” Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins instructed.
She said that Malibu’s City Hall was in an evacuation zone.
In the early morning, winds were gusting to 40 miles per hour. The temperature was heading up from 62 degrees to a high of 75.